Psych: Introductory Psychology

by Spencer A. Rathus

Created through a "student-tested, faculty-approved" review process with over 150 students and faculty, PSYCH 2 is an engaging and accessible solution to accommodate the diverse lifestyles of today's learners.

Genres: Psychology

Paperback

First published October 1, 2008

About the author

Spence Rathus is a veteran author who, in addition to his intro and development books with Thomson Learning, publishes texts in adjustment and abnormal psychology with other publishers. Spencer A. Rathus is known for his warm, encouraging writing style and applied approach to learning. As the first member of his family to attend college, he struggled through dry and technical books that didn’t resonate with him. His goal is to write textbooks that excite and motivate today’s students, through humor, personal examples, and a clear pedagogical framework. Since earning his Ph.D., he has published research articles in the areas of human growth and development, psychological disorders, methods of therapy, and psychological assessment. Foremost among his research publications is the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule(RAS), which is widely used in research and clinical practice and frequently referenced in other literature. Rathus taught at Northeastern University and St. John’s University before arriving at his current position at New York University, where he teaches a culturally diverse population of students in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Reviews

[KC Cabauatan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a textbook, this so far, is the easiest Psychology book to read.

[Cynthia Iruma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Missing pages

I rented this book few minutes ago and some pages are not displaying. How am I going to read those chapters when I need to???

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the textbook used in my Dual Enrollment General Psych class. The textbook is very visually appealing, is very appropriately sized for a high school student with way too many other materials, and contains up-to-date facts and relevant examples.

The information presented in this book is very logically presented, with very useful sidebars with interesting facts and other various tidbits of information.

If you are taking an introductory Psychology course, I would definitely recommend this textbook. Granted, I have only ever taken one class in this field, but the textbook definitely helped to augment my instructor's lectures (which were also outstanding).

Note that because this was loaned to me through my high school, I did not evaluate the online materials.

[Rick Hunter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book because of an online course. I had taken psychology before at another school but for some reason the credits wouldn't transfer & I had to take it again. This book was a joke compared to the book used in the previous class. This book seemed like it was written for an ADHD 8th grader instead of for college students. I didn't really learn anything from this book.

[Chris Butler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very little empirical science-based material. Largely evolutionary based perspectives to try to explain human behaviour.
A worldview without God leads all roads to a dead-end of meaning so a nihilist conclusion is the only possible outcome.
I had to read this for a psychology course and if it wasn’t mandatory reading I would have turfed it after the second chapter....

[Rachel C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a good for a review of basic psychology concepts. I didn't like the magazine-like quality too much though. Still, it's one of the few class-assigned books I've kept.

[LALY · Rating 4 out of 5]

i havent read yet

[catto doggoland · Rating 1 out of 5]

Author's self gratifying intellectual masturbation and rambling pointless tangents at it's finest example of a baffling typical text. Poor grammar, pointless circular logic... enjoy.